1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?

(DF) Well, let’s see – I’m an overeducated history and philosophy nerd who studies Krav Maga, the self defense system of the Israeli military. That’s the short version. The long version includes being accused of terrorism (pre-9/11 … it’s complicated), a fascination with IRA songs, and being a walking confessional for college (and that was a long four years, let me tell you).

My start in writing? Once upon a time, I fell into a tv show called Babylon 5. I followed the show, read the writer’s notes on it, and I started dabbling myself. Soon, I had over 4000 pages of text, none of my material looked like where it started, and I was addicted to writing.

2. All writers fear the dreaded “block”. Please tell us how you handle it.

(DF) I don’t actually suffer from writer’s block, mostly because I’ve never been forced to work on just one project. If it ever happens that I can’t think of what to do next on one project, I go onto another. Usually, I sit down at the computer, double check what cliff I left everyone dangling over this time, and start figuring out how to get them off of it without dropping them. I tend to have a lot of cliffs involved. And when the plot gets slow, I send someone through a door with a machinegun.

3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how to do you spend your time?

(DF) Not writing? What is this thing called “not writing”? There is no such thing. If I’m not writing a book, I’m writing a press release, or a letter to bookstores, or a guest blog for a site that’s never heard of me before. Or talking with a church group about talking in front of them, or … or … or …

I will occasionally see a movie, or read a novel. Since my PR has started on both novels – Codename: Winterborn and A Pius Man – my reading speed has dropped significantly. Books I used to finish in a day now take weeks. When I really feel the need to just stop – as in “My head hurts even thinking about writing” – I turn on my Xbox and fall in for a few days.

4. I know many writers, such as Dirk and myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?

(DF) Most people know what I do, but my best friends tell me that I should rock on and keep plugging away. The ones who are just acquaintances tell me “that’s nice” and start discussing their little universe, because the latest Jersey Shore plot they call their life is more interesting than anything else.

5. Will you share with us your all time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.

(DF) John Ringo, Vince Flynn, James Rollins, David Weber, Timothy Zahn, S. Kenyon (didn’t see that one coming, did you?), Jim Butcher, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (who really only count as one unit, they’re practically joined at the hip), Terry Prachett and Terry Goodkind.

(Kam) I’m a fan of SK, too. 🙂

6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love see casted in the parts?

(DF) I’d definitely want my own books on the big screen, are you kidding? Though it would be a coin flip between Codename: Winterborn and A Pius Man. I think, though, that I would want A Pius Man to happen first. I actually have a whole vlog dedicated to that, but I’d be happy with a combination that’s one part Joss Whedon cast, and one part Castle. Christian Kane for Sean A.P. Ryan, Stana Katic for Manana Shushurin, Summer Glau for Maureen McGrail… the list goes on for a while. And those are only a few thoughts on a few characters. The Vlog goes on forever.

7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.

(DF) The two of us are working on the sequel to Codename: Winterborn, and I’m putting the finishing touches to my novel A Pius Legacy.

10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.

(DF) If they can’t get enough of my overly exciting writing style, they can find more from me at apiusman.blogspot.com, or @apiusmannovel or even @SeanAPRyan (a real account for a fictional character).

Wrap-up

Ladies and Gents, I hope you enjoyed our interview with Declan Finn. If you have any questions or comments for Declan, by all means, leave him a message below. Thank you in advance for your visit!